"Health Behaviour in School-aged Children" is a World Health Organisation cross-national collaborative study which is conducted every four years. As its name suggests, the study is a survey of the health behaviour of 11- to 15-year-olds in 43 (mostly European) countries. In Switzerland, which became a member country in 1986, the study is based in Addiction Switzerland (formerly Swiss Institute of the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems, SIPA). Funding is provided by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the cantons and Addiction Switzerland.

Data on the positive and negative health behaviours schoolchildren are collected according to a standardised methodology to ensure that international comparisons can be made. These data are a valuable source of information on youth health behaviour trends over time. Moreover, the international and multidisciplinary HBSC research network offers the ideal environment for acquiring and sharing new knowledge. Finally, the HBSC study is a particularly useful resource for the development and re-design of prevention measures. Many reports and scientific articles make mention of the international importance of the study (a complete list of these publications can be found on the international HBSC website).